My psoriasis treatments – then and now

This week I am celebrating my birthday. This one is not that special – it’s not a multiple of five or 10 at least – but it is significant in relation to psoriasis. This year marks my 30th year with psoriasis. Of these 30 years, I can count on two fingers how many years I can say my skin cleared of sores without medication. Even with all the systemic medications and biologics, my skin doesn’t really clear. In my teens and 20s, I chose running long distance as my favorite form of exercise. Having psoriasis takes endurance, patience, and a hope that defies hope. It reminds me of my fifteen mile runs rather than my one mile races.

I did receive a number of well-wishes on this birthday as well as a great gift: My parents took all three kids for three nights over the weekend. My wife and I enjoyed going out to dinner and watching movies. Maybe I’m at an age where I don’t really want those typical dad birthday/Father’s Day gifts like shirts and ties. Having some time to relax, read and reflect might be the best gift of all.

Well, not the best gift.

The best gift I could ever receive is clear skin. I keep telling those who ask me what I want for my birthday that life without psoriasis trumps all other gifts. If only someone out there could give me that! Wrap it up in a little box with a card that says, “Congratulations! Take this pill and your psoriasis will magically disappear for life!” Now that’s something we could market even in a faltering economy.

Instead of that magic little pill, I have something else that I did want and I do consider a gift: the chance to try Humira. I have noticed an interesting pattern with my Humira (adalimumab) treatment. After my injection on Tuesday evening, my rash gets worse until Sunday evening. Then overnight my rash and psoriasis shows improvement on Monday. The next week and a half before the next injection, the condition meanders from a little better to a little worse until the next injection. A week away from my next injection, I do have to say that this stuff works. How well it works remains to be seen, but I can positively say that my psoriasis does respond to Humira.

Maybe taking a drug twice a week that’s beginning to control my skin is enough magic for now, given how amazing these biologic therapies are. Thirty years ago, my therapies included 10% coal tar in Aquaphor, ultraviolet light treatment in a clinic 40 minutes away, and topical steroids. We didn’t have cyclosporine, Enbrel, Dovonex or Humira. We didn’t have as clear an understanding of how the immune system works to mediate inflammatory diseases like psoriasis. I can say those dark days of lengthy car trips to the clinic for light treatments and messy topical treatments are mostly behind us. On the most part, living with psoriasis is easier today with the medical breakthroughs and enlightened understanding of its emotional/psychological impact.

Who knows about 30 years from now? It’s entirely possible that we won’t bother with the “heartbreak of psoriasis” because having psoriasis will be dealt with through genetic therapies or fifth generation biologics that work much more effectively across greater demographics than today. Now that’s a birthday I am looking forward to!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Howard Chang

Rev. Howard Chang has lived with severe psoriasis and eczema for more than 35 years, since childhood. In addition to actively blogging and tweeting about skin-related concerns, he volunteers for the National...read more